Lincoln murder suspect found murdered in Mississippi

The suspect in the July 7 murder of a Lincoln convenience store clerk was himself murdered in Mississippi a month after the Lincoln shooting.

Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said extensive follow-up investigation lead to identifying 20 year old Rodzela Jones as the suspect.

“Family members and other law enforcement officials with prior contacts with Jones identifying him in the video surveillance footage,” Bliemeister told reporters at a Thursday morning briefing. “Individuals confirmed he was wearing the same clothing as the suspect on the day of the shooting, and phone records and interviews with family place him in Lincoln at the time of the shooting.”

Jones was murdered just days after Lincoln police identified him as a suspect.

“So it took some time to piece all of the elements together, and make sure that we knew Rodzela Jones was the person culpable for the homicide and attempted robbery,” Bliemeister said.

Jones was identified as the suspect through interviews with his family and friends who saw the surveillance footage.

Investigators do not know why Jones targeted the Kwik Shop on North 14th Street, or what led him to shoot and kill 51 year old Robert Hanna.

Jones and his family were working construction in Nebraska at the time, according to Bliemeister.